Washing machine

ABSTRACT

A washing machine including a cabinet with an opening, a door that opens and closes to uncover and cover the opening, respectively, and a door locking device that selectively restrains a motion of the door when the door is closed. This configuration may be used to prevent the door from opening when, for example, the washing machine is in operation. In addition, a structure of a front portion of the opening may facilitate loading and unloading of laundry.

RELATED APPLICATION(S)CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Notice: More than one reissue application has been filed for the reissueof U.S. Pat. No. 9,725,841. The reissue applications are the presentapplication and U.S. Reissue patent application Ser. No. 16/192,555.This application is a reissue continuation application of a reissue ofU.S. application Ser. No. 16/192,555 filed on Nov. 15, 2018, which is anapplication for reissue of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/959,583, filedDec. 4, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,725,841, which claims the benefitofpriority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0173203, filed onDec. 4, 2014 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, thedisclosuredisclosures of which isare incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a washing machine, and moreparticularly, to a washing machine with a door locking device.

Generally, a washing machine is an apparatus that uses water anddetergent to wash laundry, and includes a cabinet, a fixed tub in whichwash water is stored, and a rotating tub rotatably provided in the fixedtub.

An opening is formed at the washing machine for loading and unloadinglaundry, and the opening is covered or uncovered with a door. A lockingdevice may be provided to prevent the door from opening during, forexample, washing operation.

However, when the locking device of the door is disposed at a frontsurface of the door, a cabinet corresponding thereto has a protrudingstructure, which interferes with a user when the user bends down to loador unload laundry.

Since a door locking device may restrain a door from outside the washingmachine cabinet, a part of the door locking device installed in thecabinet to be coupled to a locking part of the door had to protrude tothe outside via a through-hole in the cabinet. Hence, it may have beendifficult not to be able to form a flat opening flange to receive thedoor on an upper surface of the cabinet. Furthermore, when the doorlocking device is disposed at a center of a front portion of the openingflange, the door locking device that may protrude past an abuttingsurface may bother a user when the user bends over to load or unloadlaundry, or otherwise access the washing machine tub.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure provides a washing machine with animproved structure of a door locking device. In addition, a washingmachine with an improved structure of an upper frame of a cabinet isprovided to facilitate an approach to an inner portion of the washingmachine to, for example, load or unload laundry.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machineincludes a cabinet, an upper frame at an upper portion of the cabinetand having an opening and an opening flange formed around the opening. Adoor is rotatably disposed at the upper frame to open and close, where aclosed door covers the opening and an opened door uncovers the opening.A locking member is provided at the door where the locking member isconfigured to be inserted into the upper frame when the door is closed.A door locking device may be supported by the upper frame and configuredto selectively restrain the locking member in the upper frame when thedoor is closed.

The locking member may be provided at a center portion of a frontportion of the door, and the door locking device may be at acorresponding center portion of a front portion of the upper frame.

The opening flange may include a through-hole and a mounting part aroundthe through-hole. The door locking device may comprise a locking switchconfigured to restrain the locking member and a mounting unit where afirst side is coupled to the mounting part and a second side is coupledto the locking switch.

The mounting unit may include an upper unit above the mounting part andhave an accommodation hole configured to correspond to the through-hole,where the accommodation hole may be capable of receiving the lockingmember. The mounting unit may also include a lower unit below themounting part.

The upper unit and the lower unit may be configured to be coupled to theopening flange with the mounting part in between, and the locking switchmay be coupled to the lower unit and mounted on a lower portion of theopening flange by coupling between the upper unit and the lower unit.

One of the upper unit and the lower unit may include a lockingprotrusion, and the other of the upper unit and the lower unit mayinclude a coupling hole that couples to the locking protrusion.

The mounting unit may include a flip cover that uncovers and covers theaccommodation hole.

The mounting unit may include a closing member configured to force theflip cover upward to cover the accommodation hole, where the flip coveris configured to be pushed open by the locking member as the door isclosed.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the flip cover and theclosing member may be a part of the lower unit.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the upper unit and the lowerunit may be coupled to the opening flange while having the mounting parttherebetween, the locking switch may be coupled to the lower unit, thelower unit may include a coupling flange to be coupled to the upperframe, and the coupling flange may be fixed in the upper frame by screwcoupling and a hook structure to mount the locking switch on the lowerportion of the opening flange.

The locking switch may include a sliding member configured to beselectively inserted into the locking member, and the sliding member mayslide in the upper frame.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the mounting unit mayinclude a coupling flange for coupling to the upper frame, and thecoupling flange may be welded to an inside of the upper frame.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the opening flange mayinclude a front flange in front of the opening, a pair of side flangesformed at sides of the opening and facing each other, and a rear flangeprovided at a rear of the opening facing the front flange, and connectedto the pair of side flanges, and the door locking device at a centerportion of the front flange.

The front flange may include a front inclined surface that is inclineddown toward the front of the upper frame, a rear inclined surface thatis inclined down toward the opening, and a door seating part between thefront inclined surface and the rear inclined surface where a forwardportion of the door may be seated on the door seating frame when thedoor is closed.

An angle between the front inclined surface and a reference groundsurface may be smaller than an angle between the side flanges and thereference ground surface.

The front inclined surface, the rear inclined surface, and the doorseating part may be formed as one curved surface.

The opening flange may be formed to be gradually sloped downward fromthe rear toward the front.

At the opening flange, a height from a reference ground surface to anupper portion of the front flange may be less than a height from thereference ground surface to upper portions of the side flanges.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machineincludes a cabinet, an upper frame at an upper portion of the cabinethaving an opening and an opening flange formed around the opening, and adoor rotatably disposed at the upper frame to open and close, where aclosed door covers the opening and an opened door uncovers the opening.The door may have a locking member that may be inserted into the upperframe when the door is closed, and a door locking device supported bythe upper frame, and configured to selectively restrain the lockingmember in the upper frame when the door is closed. The door lockingdevice may include a locking switch configured to restrain the lockingmember, an upper unit above the opening flange and having anaccommodation hole capable of accommodating the locking member, and alower unit below the opening flange having one side coupled to the upperunit and the other side coupled to the locking switch.

One of the upper unit and the lower unit may include a lockingprotrusion, and the other of the upper unit and the lower unit mayinclude a coupling hole that couples to the locking protrusion.

The locking switch may include a sliding member that may be selectivelyinserted into the locking member, and the sliding member may slide inthe upper frame.

The upper unit may include a flip cover that may be configured to coverand uncover the accommodation hole.

The upper unit may include a closing member configured to force the flipcover upward to cover the accommodation hole, where the flip cover isconfigured to be pushed open by the locking member as the door isclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent andmore readily appreciated from the following description of theembodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a washing machine according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the washing machine according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view in which a door of the washing machine isopened according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a upper frame and a doorlocking device of the washing machine according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the door locking device of the washingmachine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the door locking device of thewashing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of a cross-sectional view of amounting part of an upper frame of the washing machine along the lineA-A′ illustrated in FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a door locking device of a washingmachine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the door locking device of thewashing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged view of a cross-sectional view of amounting part of a upper frame of the washing machine along the lineA-A′ illustrated in FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a door locking device of a washingmachine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the door locking device ofthe washing machine according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged view of a cross-sectional view of amounting part of an upper frame of the washing machine along the lineA-A′ illustrated in FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the upper frame of the washingmachine along the line A-A′ illustrated in FIG. 2 according to anembodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the upper frame of the washingmachine along the line B-B′ illustrated in FIG. 2 according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a washing machineaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is aperspective view illustrating the washing machine according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , a washing machine 1 includes a cabinet 100that forms an exterior, a fixed tub 11 disposed in the cabinet 100 andin which wash water is stored, a rotating tub 12 rotatably disposed inthe fixed tub 11, and a pulsator 50 disposed in the rotating tub 12 togenerate a water flow.

An opening 120a is formed at an upper portion of the cabinet 100 to beable to insert laundry in the rotating tub 12. The opening 120a may becovered and uncovered by a door 40 installed at the upper portion of thecabinet 100.

The cabinet 100 may include an upper frame 110 and a lower frame 130.The lower frame 130 may include a front frame 131 provided at a frontsurface thereof, a pair of side frames 132 provided at side surfacesthereof to face each other and coupled to the front frame 131, and arear frame 133 connected to the side frames 132, and provided to facethe front frame 131. The upper frame 110 may be provided above the lowerframe 130, and include the opening 120a.

The fixed tub 11 may be supported by a suspension system 15 in thecabinet 100.

A water supply pipe 17 for supplying wash water to the fixed tub 11 isinstalled above the fixed tub 11. One side of the water supply pipe 17is connected to an external water supply source, and the other side ofthe water supply pipe 17 is connected to a detergent supply device 16.Water supplied through the water supply pipe 17 passes through thedetergent supply device 16 and is supplied to an inner portion of thefixed tub 11 together with a detergent. A water supply valve 18 isinstalled at the water supply pipe 17 to control a supply of water.

An auxiliary detergent supply device 104 (FIG. 3 ) may be provided atthe upper frame 110. A liquid detergent, bleaching agent, fabricconditioner, etc. may be stored in the auxiliary detergent supply device104, and introduced into the rotating tub 12 to assist in the washing.

The rotating tub 12 is provided in a shape of a cylinder with an openupper portion, and a plurality of dehydration holes 13 are formed at aside surface thereof. A balancer 14 may be mounted at an upper portionof the rotating tub 12 to enable the rotating tub 12 to stably rotatewhen rotating at a high speed.

A motor 25 that generates a driving force for rotating the rotating tub12 and the pulsator 50, and a power switching device 26 that transfersthe driving force from the motor 25 to the rotating tub 12 and/or thepulsator 50 are installed outside and below the fixed tub 11.

A hollow dehydration shaft 29 may be coupled to the rotating tub 12, anda washing shaft 27 installed at a hollow portion of the hollowdehydration shaft 29 may be coupled to the pulsator 50 through a washingshaft coupling part 28. The motor 25 may transfer the driving force tothe rotating tub 12 and/or the pulsator 50 in accordance with actions ofthe power switching device 26.

The power switching device 26 may include an actuator 30 that generatesa driving force for switching power, a rod part 31 that moves linearlyin accordance with motion of the actuator 30, and a clutch part 32connected to the rod part 31 to rotate in accordance with motion of therod part 31.

A drain hole 20 is formed at a floor of the fixed tub 11 to dischargethe wash water stored in the fixed tub 11, and a first drain pipe 21 isconnected to the drain hole 20. A drain valve 22 that regulates drainagemay be installed at the first drain pipe 21. An outlet of the drainvalve 22 may be connected to a second drain pipe 34 for discharging thewash water to the outside.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view in which a door of the washing machine isopened according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 4is an exploded perspective view of an upper frame and a door lockingdevice of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

The washing machine 1 may include the door 40 at the upper frame 110,which is an upper portion of the cabinet 100, and the door may open andclose to uncover and cover the opening 120a, respectively. The washingmachine may include a door locking device 70 that is capable ofselectively restraining the door 40 when the door 40 has closed theopening 120a.

The door 40 may include a locking member 41 to enable the door lockingdevice 70 to restrain the door 40, and the locking member 41 may beinserted into the cabinet 100 when the door 40 is closed. Specifically,the locking member 41 may be inserted into the upper frame 110.

A shape of the locking member 41 is not limited, and the locking member41 may be formed in various shapes such as a shape of a hook, ring, etc.

The door locking device 70 may be disposed in the cabinet 100 tocorrespond to a position of the locking member 41 provided at the door40. Specifically, the door locking device may be disposed to besupported at the upper frame 110 of the cabinet 100. In an embodiment ofthe present disclosure, the locking member 41 may be disposed at acenter portion of a front portion of the door 40, and the door lockingdevice 70 may correspond thereto and be disposed at a center portion ofa front portion of the upper frame 110.

As the door locking device 70 restrains the door 40, the door 40 may beprevented from being lifted from the opening 120a, and become capable ofstably covering the opening 120a. As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the upperframe 110 may include an opening flange 120 formed around the opening120a. The opening flange 120 of the upper frame 110 may include athrough-hole 112 (FIG. 4 ) into which the door locking device 70 isinserted, and a mounting part 114 around the through-hole 112. The doorlocking device 70 that restrains the door 40 when the door 40 has closedto cover the opening 120a is mounted on the mounting part 114 tocorrespond to the position of the locking member 41 of the door, i.e. aposition of the through-hole 112. The mounting part 114 may not protrudepast the opening flange 120, and an upper surface of the opening flange120 may be formed flat. In a washing machine according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure, since the locking member 41 ofthe door 40 is inserted into the upper frame 110, and the door lockingdevice 70 enables restraining the locking member 41 at an inner portionof the upper frame 110, i.e. a lower portion of the opening flange 120,a front portion of the opening flange 120 may be flat. In addition,since there is no protruding part from the front portion of the openingflange 120, the opening 120a may be made wider. Accordingly, loading andunloading laundry may be made easier.

A shape of the front portion of the opening flange 120 is not limited,and may be any shape as long as the shape enables the door 40 to closeto cover the opening 120a. In an embodiment of the present disclosure,the shape of the front portion of the opening flange 120 and the shapeof the front portion of the door 40 are formed flat, such that the frontportion of the door 40 fits the front portion of the opening flange 120when the door 40 is closed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the door locking device of the washingmachine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 6 isan exploded perspective view of the door locking device of the washingmachine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 7is a partially enlarged view of a cross-sectional view of a mountingpart of an upper frame of the washing machine along the line A-A′illustrated in FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

The door locking device 70 may include a locking switch 80 thatrestrains the locking member 41, and a mounting unit 90 for mounting thelocking switch 80 on the upper frame 110. One side of the mounting unit90 may be coupled to the mounting part 114, and the other side thereofmay be coupled to the locking switch 80.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 , the mounting unit 90 may include an upperunit 92 disposed above the mounting part 114, and a lower unit 94disposed below the mounting part 114. The lower unit 94 includes a lowerunit hole 944.

The upper unit 92 and the lower unit 94 may be coupled to the openingflange 120 with the mounting part 114 in between. The locking switch 80coupled to the lower unit 94 may be mounted on a lower portion of theopening flange 120 by coupling between the upper unit 92 and the lowerunit 94.

To couple the upper unit 92 and the lower unit 94, one of the upper unit92 and the lower unit 94 may include a locking protrusion 99, and theother one may include a coupling hole 98 that couples to the lockingprotrusion 99. Accordingly, the upper unit 92 and the lower unit 94 maybe coupled to each other by snap fitting the locking protrusion 99 andthe coupling hole 98.

The lower unit 94 may include a locking switch coupling part 942 capableof being coupled to the locking switch 80, and the locking switch 80 mayinclude a mounting unit coupling part 83 to which the locking switchcoupling part 942 may be coupled.

A screw hole (not shown) may be formed at one end of the locking switchcoupling part 942, and the locking switch coupling part 942 may becoupled to the locking switch 80 by a screw after being inserted intothe mounting unit coupling part 83.

The locking switch 80 may include a sliding member 81 capable ofrestraining the locking member 41 of the door 40, and a locking switchmain body 82.

The sliding member 81 may latch the door 40 when the door 40 has closedto cover the opening 120a. Specifically, when the door 40 is closed, thesliding member 81 slides forward into the locking member 41 provided atthe door 40, thereby preventing the door 40 from opening.

When a washing operation of the washing machine starts after the door 40is closed, the sliding member 81 slides forward to restrain the lockingmember 41 of the door 40, thereby preventing the door 40 from beingopened during operation of the washing machine. A door open/closedetection sensor (not shown) may be disposed together, such that thesliding member moves in accordance with a door open/close detectionsignal.

Even though a shape of the sliding member 81 is not limited, the slidingmember 81 may have upper and lower surfaces that are wider than sidesurfaces in various embodiments of the present disclosure.

The upper unit 92 of the mounting unit 90 may have an accommodation hole91 that corresponds to the through-hole 112 and is capable ofaccommodating the locking member 41.

Since the accommodation hole 91 is disposed to accommodate the lockingmember 41 of the door, the accommodation hole 91 may guide the door 40to be seated correctly when the door 40 is closed to cover the opening120a.

The lower unit 94 may include a flip cover 96 capable of opening andclosing the accommodation hole 91. The flip cover 96 may include a coverpart 961 that closes the accommodation hole 91, a hinge shaft 962, ahinge coupling protrusion 963, and a closing member 97.

The hinge coupling protrusion 963 is inserted into a hinge coupling hole941 of the lower unit 94, such that the cover part 961 rotates by thehinge shaft 962. The closing member 97 forces the cover part 961 upwardwhen the door 40 is open to prevent, for example, debris from fallingthrough the accommodation hole 91. When the door 40 is closed, the coverpart 961 is pushed open by the locking member 41.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure may include a dooropen/close detection sensor (not shown) that detects rotation of arotary shaft of the door 40. The open/close detection sensor may be anysensor appropriate for such purposes.

The door open/close detection sensor is a sensor that may detect whenthe door 40 does not properly cover the opening 120a. The open/closedetection sensor may be any sensor appropriate for such purposes.

As the door open/close detection sensor is disposed, when the opening120a is not properly covered by the door 40, the door open/closedetection sensor may be able to notify a control unit (not shown) suchthat the cover part 961 may not open and/or the sliding member 81 may beprevented from latching the door 40, and washing operation may not beallowed to take place. Additionally, an alarm may be generated. Thecontrol unit may be any processing unit appropriate for such purposes.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the flip cover 96 may beopened and closed in accordance with a signal from the door open/closedetection sensor. The open/close detection sensor may be any sensorappropriate for such purposes.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a door locking device of a washingmachine according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG.9 is an exploded perspective view of the door locking device of thewashing machine according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure, and FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged view of across-sectional view of a mounting part of a upper frame of the washingmachine along the line A-A′ illustrated in FIG. 2 according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

A door locking device 170 may include a locking switch 180 thatrestrains the locking member 41, and a mounting unit 190 for mountingthe locking switch 180 on the upper frame 110. One side of the mountingunit 190 may be coupled to the mounting part 114, and the other sidethereof may be coupled to the locking switch 180.

The mounting unit 190 may include a coupling flange 195 to couple thedoor locking device 170 to the upper frame 110. Specifically, thecoupling flange 195 may be formed of a vertical surface 193 and ahorizontal surface 194, and the horizontal surface 194 may be, forexample, welded to a bottom surface of the opening flange to couple thedoor locking device 170 to the upper frame 110.

The locking switch 180 that couples to the mounting unit 190 may bemounted, for example, on the lower portion of the opening flange 120 bycoupling between the mounting unit 190 and the opening flange 120.

The mounting unit 190 may include the locking switch coupling part 942capable of being coupled to the locking switch 180, and the lockingswitch 180 may include a mounting unit coupling part 183 to which thelocking switch coupling part 942 may be coupled.

A screw hole (not shown) may be formed at one end of the locking switchcoupling part 942, and the locking switch coupling part 942 may becoupled to the locking switch 180 by a screw after being inserted intothe mounting unit coupling part 183.

The locking switch 180 may include a sliding member 181 capable ofrestraining the locking member 41 of the door 40, and a locking switchmain body 182.

The locking switch main body 182 may contact a seating part 192 providedat the mounting unit 190.

The sliding member 181 may latch the door 40 when the door 40 has closedthe opening 120a. Specifically, the sliding member 181 may slide forwardinto the upper frame 110 to latch the locking member 41 provided at thedoor 40, thereby restraining the door 40 from opening.

When a washing operation starts after the door 40 is closed, the slidingmember 181 slides forward to restrain the locking member 41 of the door40, thereby preventing the door 40 from being opened during operation ofthe washing machine. The door open/close detection sensor (not shown)may be disposed together, such that the sliding member moves inaccordance with a door open/close detection signal.

Even though a shape of the sliding member 181 is not limited, thesliding member 181 may be provided to have upper and lower surfaceswider than side surfaces in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The mounting unit 190 may include a flip cover 196 capable of coveringand uncovering the through-hole 112.

In a present embodiment of the present disclosure, since thethrough-hole 112 is disposed to correspond to the locking member 41 ofthe door 40, the through-hole 112 may guide the door 40 to be seatedaccurately when the door 40 is closed to cover the opening 120a.

The flip cover 196 may include the cover part 961 that closes thethrough-hole 112, the hinge shaft 962, the hinge coupling protrusion963, and a closing member 197.

The hinge coupling protrusion 963 is inserted into the hinge couplinghole 941 of the mounting unit 190 such that the cover part 961 rotateson the hinge shaft 962. The closing member 197 forces the cover part 961upward to prevent, for example, debris from falling through theaccommodation hole 91. When the door 40 is closed, the cover part 961 ispushed open by the locking member 41.

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the flip cover 196 maybe able to be opened and closed in accordance with a signal from thedoor open/close detection sensor. The open/close detection sensor may beany sensor appropriate for such purposes.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a door locking device of a washingmachine according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the door locking device ofthe washing machine according to still another embodiment of the presentdisclosure, and FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged view of across-sectional view of a mounting part of an upper frame of the washingmachine along the line A-A′ illustrated in FIG. 2 according to stillanother embodiment of the present disclosure.

A door locking device 270 may include a locking switch 280 thatrestrains the locking member 41, and a mounting unit 290 for mountingthe locking switch 280 on the upper frame 110. One side of the mountingunit 290 may be coupled to the mounting part 114, and the other sidethereof may be coupled to the locking switch 280.

As illustrated in FIG. 12 , the mounting unit 290 may include an upperunit 292 disposed above the mounting part 114, and a lower unit 294disposed below the mounting part 114.

The upper unit 292 and the lower unit 294 may be coupled to the openingflange 120 while having the mounting part 114 therebetween.

To couple the upper unit 292 and the lower unit 294, one of the upperunit 292 and the lower unit 294 may include a locking protrusion 299,and the other one may include a coupling hole 298 that couples to thelocking protrusion 299. By snap fitting the locking protrusion 299 andthe coupling hole 298, the upper unit 292 and the lower unit 294 may becoupled to each other.

The lower unit 294 may include the locking switch coupling part 942capable of being coupled to the locking switch 280, and the lockingswitch 280 may include a mounting unit coupling part 283 to which thelocking switch coupling part 942 may be coupled.

A screw hole (not shown) may be formed at one end of the locking switchcoupling part 942, and the locking switch coupling part 942 may becoupled to the locking switch 280 by a screw after being inserted intothe mounting unit coupling part 283.

The lower unit 294 may include at least one coupling flange 295 tocouple the door locking device 270 to the upper frame 110. Specifically,a coupling hole 295a is formed at one of either the front or rear ofcoupling flange 295 to be coupled to a screw coupling flange 120b of theupper frame 110 by a screw, and a bent part 295b is formed at the otherof the front or rear of the coupling flange 295 to be coupled to a hookcoupling flange 120c of the upper frame 110.

In each of the parts, the coupling flange 295 and the upper frame 110may use, for example, screw coupling or a hook structure to fix thelower unit 294 to the upper frame 110.

The locking switch 280 that couples to the lower unit 294 may be mountedon the inner portion of the upper frame 110 by coupling the lower unit294 and the upper frame 110.

The mounting unit 290 may include the locking switch coupling part 942capable of being coupled to the locking switch 280, and the lockingswitch 280 may include the mounting unit coupling part 283 to which thelocking switch coupling part 942 may be coupled.

A screw hole (not shown) may be formed at one end of the locking switchcoupling part 942, and the locking switch coupling part 942 may becoupled to the locking switch 280 by a screw after being inserted intothe mounting unit coupling part 283.

The locking switch 280 may include a sliding member 281 capable ofrestraining the locking member 41 of the door 40, and a locking switchmain body 282.

The sliding member 281 may restrain the door 40 by a sliding motion whenthe door 40 has closed to cover the opening 120a. Specifically, thesliding member 281 slides forward in the upper frame 110 to latch thelocking member 41 of the door 40, thereby restraining the door 40 fromopening.

When the door 40 is closed, the sliding member 281 slides forward torestrain the locking member 41 of the door 40, thereby preventing thedoor 40 from being opened during operation of the washing machine. Thedoor open/close detection sensor (not shown) may be disposed together,such that the sliding member moves in accordance with a door open/closedetection signal.

Even though a shape of the sliding member 281 is not limited, thesliding member 281 may be provided to have upper and lower surfaceswider than side surfaces in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The upper unit 292 of the mounting unit 290 may have an accommodationhole 291 that corresponds to the through-hole 112 and is capable ofaccommodating the locking member 41.

Since the accommodation hole 291 is disposed to correspond to thelocking member 41 of the door, the accommodation hole 291 may guide thedoor 40 to be seated accurately when the door 40 is closed to cover theopening 120a.

The lower unit 294 may include a flip cover 296 capable of opening andclosing the accommodation hole 291. The flip cover 296 may include thecover part 961 that covers the accommodation hole 291, the hinge shaft962, the hinge coupling protrusion 963, and a closing member 297.

The hinge coupling protrusion 963 is inserted into the hinge couplinghole 941 of the lower unit 294 such that the cover part 961 rotates bythe hinge shaft 962. The closing member 297 forces the cover part 961upward when the door 40 is open to prevent, for example, debris fromfalling through the accommodation hole 91. When the door 40 is closed,the cover part 961 is pushed open by the locking member 41.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the flip cover 296 may beopened and closed in accordance with a signal from a door open/closedetection sensor. The open/close detection sensor may be any sensorappropriate for such purposes.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A′ in FIG. 2 ,and FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B′ in FIG.2 .

As discussed with respect to at least FIGS. 1-3 , the upper frame 110may be provided above the lower frame 130, and provided to include theopening 120a. The upper frame 110 includes the opening 120a formedtherein, and the opening flange 120 provided to be tilted toward theopening 120a.

As discussed with respect to at least FIGS. 2-4 , the opening flange 120includes a front flange 122 provided at the front with respect to theopening 120a, a pair of side flanges 124 formed at sides with respect tothe opening 120a and provided to face each other, and a rear flange 126provided at the rear with respect to the opening 120a, provided at theother side of the front flange 122, and connected to the pair of sideflanges 124.

The front flange 122, the side flanges 124, and the rear flange 126 areformed to surround the opening 120a. As mentioned above, the frontflange 122 may be provided to be convenient for a user of the washingmachine to load and unload laundry, or otherwise access the tub.

In other words, the locking switches 80, 180, and 280 of the doorlocking devices 70, 170, and 270 that restrain the door 40 are disposedin the upper frame 110, such that the sliding members 81, 181, and 281slide forward into the upper frame 110, and a button unit 102 (FIGS. 1-3) by which a control signal is input to the washing machine is disposedat the back of the upper frame 110. Accordingly, a structure of thefront flange 122 provided at the front portion of the opening 120a maybe simplified.

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the sliding members81, 181, and 281 are disposed to slide in the upper frame 110, such thatthe height of the front flange 122 may be lowered.

The front flange 122 may be provided at the front portion of the opening120a and formed as a convex curved surface in an upward direction. Inother words, the front flange 122 may be formed as a curved surfacebecause various embodiments of the disclosure enable a configuration ofthe front flange 122 where the sliding members 81, 181, and 281 areallowed to slide in the upper frame 110.

Accordingly, the front flange 122 may have a gentle slope forward thatmay allow a user to easily load and unload laundry from the rotating tub12, or otherwise access the rotating tub 12.

The front flange 122 may include a front inclined surface 122a in thefront of the washing machine, a rear inclined surface 122b that facesthe opening 120a, and a door seating part 122c that is formed betweenthe front inclined surface 122a and the rear inclined surface 122b. Thedoor seating part 122c may be formed to have a bottom portion of thedoor 40 come in contact therewith when the door 40 is closed. Although abottom portion of the door 40 is provided to be seated on the doorseating part 122c in an embodiment of the present disclosure,embodiments are not limited thereto, and a bottom portion of the door 40may be seated on the front inclined surface 122a or the rear inclinedsurface 122b.

The front inclined surface 122a, the rear inclined surface 122b, and thedoor seating part 122c may be formed as one curved surface. As the frontflange 122 is formed with one curved surface in front and reardirections, it may be easy for the user to bend his or her body andapproach the inner portion of the rotating tub 12.

When an angle between the side flanges 124 and a reference groundsurface G is called a side angle SA, and an angle between the rearflange 126 and the reference ground surface G is called a rear angle RA,an angle between the front inclined surface 122a and the referenceground surface G may be a front angle FA that may be less than the sideangle SA or the rear angle RA. That is, the front angle FA may besmaller than the side angle SA or the rear angle RA. In other words, theopening flange 120 may be provided to have a slope from the side or rearof the opening 120a toward the front along a circumferential directionof the opening 120a. The reference ground surface G represents a virtualsurface that is a reference for measuring the angles SA, FA, and RA.

The door seating part 122c is disposed at a portion in which the frontinclined surface 122a and the rear inclined surface 122b meet in thefront flange 122. The door seating part 122c is disposed at the otherside of a rotating part of the door 40, such that the other side may beseated thereon. When the door 40 closes the opening 120a and one side ofthe door 40 seats on the door seating part 122c, the door lockingdevices 70, 170, and 270 are provided to restrain the door 40.

At least one seating pad 128 (FIG. 3 ) may be provided at the door 40 toprevent a noise or impact from being generated when the door 40 isclosed.

The upper portion of the opening flange 120 may be formed to graduallyslope down from the rear toward the front. That is, the front flange 122is formed to be lower from the reference ground surface G than the sideflanges 124 or the rear flange 126, such that the front flange 122 mayenable the user to easily load or unload the laundry, or otherwiseaccess the washing machine.

That is, when a height up to an upper portion of the front flange 122with respect to the reference ground surface G of the upper frame 110 ish1, h1 may be formed lower than h2, which is a height from the referenceground surface G up to upper portions at any point of the side flanges124. The reference ground surface G represents a virtual surface thatbecomes a reference of h1 and h2 at a lower portion of the upper frame110. The height of h1 is not limited.

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, a locking device of adoor is improved, thereby preventing opening of the door during timeswhen the door should not be open.

In addition, a structure of an upper frame of a cabinet is improved,thereby facilitating loading and unloading laundry, and otherwiseaccessing an inner portion of the washing machine.

Hereinbefore, specific embodiments have been illustrated and described.However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodimentsmentioned above, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which thepresent disclosure pertains will be able to modify and practice theembodiments in various ways without departing from the gist of thetechnical spirit of the present disclosure defined in the claims below.

What is claimed:
 1. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet; an upperframe disposed at an upper portion of the cabinet, and including anopening and an opening flange formed around the opening, wherein theopening flange comprises a through-hole and a mounting part around thethrough-hole; a door rotatably disposed at the upper frame to open andclose, wherein a closed door covers the opening and an opened dooruncovers the opening; a locking member provided at the door, wherein thelocking member is configured to be inserted into the upper frame whenthe door is closed; and a door locking device disposed to be supportedby the upper frame, and configured to selectively restrain the lockingmember in the upper frame when the door is closed, wherein the doorlocking device comprises a locking switch configured to restrain thelocking member, and a mounting unit in which a first side is coupled tothe mounting part, and a second side is coupled to the locking switch.2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein: the locking memberis provided at a center portion of a front portion of the door; and thedoor locking device is disposed at a corresponding center portion of afront portion of the upper frame.
 3. The washing machine according toclaim 1, wherein the mounting unit comprises: an upper unit disposedabove the mounting part and having an accommodation hole configured tocorrespond to the through-hole, wherein the accommodation hole iscapable of receiving the locking member; and a lower unit disposed belowthe mounting part.
 4. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein:the upper unit and the lower unit are configured to be coupled to theopening flange with the mounting part therebetween; and the lockingswitch is coupled to the lower unit and mounted on a lower portion ofthe opening flange by coupling between the upper unit and the lowerunit.
 5. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein a first oneof the upper unit and the lower unit comprises a locking protrusion, anda second one of the upper unit and the lower unit comprises a couplinghole that couples to the locking protrusion.
 6. The washing machineaccording to claim 3, wherein the mounting unit comprises a flip coverconfigured to cover and uncover the accommodation hole.
 7. The washingmachine according to claim 6, wherein the mounting unit comprises aclosing member configured to force the flip cover upward to cover theaccommodation hole, wherein the flip cover is configured to be pushedopen by the locking member as the door is closed.
 8. The washing machineaccording to claim 7, wherein the lower unit comprises the flip coverand the closing member.
 9. The washing machine according to claim 3,wherein: the upper unit and the lower unit are coupled to the openingflange while having the mounting part therebetween; the locking switchis coupled to the lower unit; the lower unit comprises a coupling flangeto be coupled to the upper frame; and the coupling flange is fixed inthe upper frame by screw coupling or a hook structure to mount thelocking switch on a lower portion of the opening flange.
 10. The washingmachine according to claim 1, wherein the locking switch comprises asliding member that is configured to be selectively inserted into thelocking member, wherein the sliding member slides in the upper frame.11. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the mounting unitcomprises a coupling flange configured to be coupled to the upper frame.12. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the couplingflange is welded to the upper frame.
 13. The washing machine accordingto claim 1, wherein the opening flange comprises: a front flangedisposed in front of the opening; side flanges formed at both sides ofthe opening, and provided to face each other; and a rear flange providedat a rear of the opening, facing the front flange, and connected to theside flanges, and the door locking device is disposed at a centerportion of the front flange.
 14. The washing machine according to claim13, wherein the front flange comprises: a front inclined surfaceinclined downward toward a front of the upper frame; a rear inclinedsurface inclined downward toward the opening; and a door seating partformed between the front inclined surface and the rear inclined surface,wherein a forward portion of the door is seated on a door seating framewhen the door is closed.
 15. The washing machine according to claim 14,wherein an angle between the front inclined surface and a referenceground surface is smaller than an angle between the side flanges and thereference ground surface.
 16. The washing machine according to claim 14,wherein the front inclined surface, the rear inclined surface, and thedoor seating part are formed as one curved surface.
 17. The washingmachine according to claim 13, wherein the opening flange is formed tobe gradually sloped downward from a rear of the opening flange toward afront of the opening flange.
 18. The washing machine according to claim13, wherein a height from a reference ground surface to an upper portionof the front flange is less than a height from the reference groundsurface to upper portions of the side flanges.
 19. A washing machinecomprising: a cabinet; an upper frame disposed at an upper portion ofthe cabinet, and including an opening and an opening flange formedaround the opening; a door rotatably disposed at the upper frame to openand close, wherein a closed door covers the opening and an opened dooruncovers the opening; a locking member provided at the door, wherein thelocking member is configured to be inserted into the upper frame whenthe door is closed; and a door locking device disposed to be supportedby the upper frame, and configured to selectively restrain the lockingmember in the upper frame when the door is closed, wherein the doorlocking device comprises: a locking switch configured to restrain thelocking member; an upper unit disposed above the opening flange andhaving an accommodation hole configured to be capable of accommodatingthe locking member; and a lower unit disposed below the opening flange,and having a first side of the lower unit coupled to the upper unit anda second side of the lower unit coupled to the locking switch.
 20. Thewashing machine according to claim 19, wherein a first one of the upperunit and the lower unit comprises a locking protrusion, and a second oneof the upper unit and the lower unit comprises a coupling hole thatcouples to the locking protrusion.
 21. The washing machine according toclaim 19, wherein the locking switch comprises a sliding member that isconfigured to be selectively inserted into the locking member.
 22. Thewashing machine according to claim 19, wherein the upper unit comprisesa flip cover configured to cover and uncover the accommodation hole. 23.The washing machine according to claim 22, wherein the upper unitcomprises a closing member configured to force the flip cover upward tocover the accommodation hole, wherein the flip cover is configured to bepushed open by the locking member as the door is closed.
 24. A washingmachine comprising: a cabinet; an upper frame disposed at an upperportion of the cabinet, the upper frame comprising: an opening to loadlaundry therethrough, and a through hole; and a door locking devicedisposed at the upper frame, the door locking device comprising: a firstmounting unit disposed on a portion of the upper frame defining thethrough hole; a second mounting unit coupled to the first mounting unitsuch that the portion of the upper frame is disposed between the firstmounting unit and the second mounting unit, the second mounting unitincluding a locking switch coupling part, and a locking switch coupledto the second mounting unit and including a mounting unit coupling partinto which the locking switch coupling part is inserted.
 25. The washingmachine according to claim 24, further comprising a door configured toopen and close the opening of the upper frame, wherein the doorcomprises a locking member configured to be inserted into the upperframe through the through hole, and wherein the locking switch comprisesa sliding member configured to restrain the locking member of the door.26. The washing machine according to claim 25, wherein the slidingmember is configured to be movable to restrain the locking member whenan operation of the washing machine starts.
 27. The washing machineaccording to claim 25, wherein the locking member is configured toaccommodate an end of the sliding member.
 28. The washing machineaccording to claim 25, wherein: the first mounting unit comprises a holecorresponding to the through hole, and the washing machine furthercomprises a flip cover configured to cover the hole of the firstmounting unit.
 29. The washing machine according to claim 28, whereinthe flip cover is configured to be pushed open by the locking memberwhen the door is closed.
 30. The washing machine according to claim 25,wherein the door locking device is configured to lock the door when thedoor is closed based on insertion of a portion of the sliding member ofthe locking switch into a portion of the locking member that is insertedthrough the through hole of the upper frame.
 31. The washing machineaccording to claim 25, wherein the locking member is configured to beinserted through the through hole of the upper frame when the door isclosed.
 32. The washing machine according to claim 25, wherein thesecond mounting unit comprises a second mounting unit hole correspondingto the through hole and configured to accommodate an end of the slidingmember.
 33. The washing machine according to claim 32, wherein thesliding member is configured to interfere with the locking member of thedoor through the second mounting unit hole of the second mounting unit.34. The washing machine according to claim 24, wherein the secondmounting unit comprises a locking protrusion configured to be insertedinto a coupling hole disposed in the first mounting unit.
 35. Thewashing machine according to claim 24, wherein the second mounting unitand the locking switch are provided to be contactable with each otherinside the upper frame.